I grew up with Christmas. Christmas, to me, was a time to celebrate the birth of the Messiah, peace on earth, and goodwill to others. It was a time to enjoy our family. Presents were a part of that. Though Santa was known to visit in all his naughty-or-nice glory, we each knew that his gifts and those from others were not a reward for good behavior. They were the outward expression of our love for and appreciation of one another. We were a family, and that would never change.
Years passed, and I chose to worship differently from my parents. I light my chanukiah; they run the train around a little tree.
